01// ello, december

Oh my god where did 2015 go.

Crazy year! I've made some major decisions, like moving to New York for a new job and visiting Korea for the first time in 10 years. So many things happened, so many things were said, I've felt all kinds of things and turning 25 was incredibly bittersweet because frankly, I still feel like there is so much more to be said, to learn, to make and to do. And the weight of have-nots crushes me sometimes harder than others because time is so precious and I'm scared I'm not using it wisely. Maybe our strengths and beauty and flaws turn up in smaller decisions we make everyday. After that train of thought I decided I wanted to be more intentional in how I spend everyday, to break the routine and do tiny things that will someday make me a better person. Thus begins the december project, something I'm doing for myself that I hope will help me out of this weird slump (mid 20s crisis maybe?) I found myself in. The actual project itself is easy, like a) take photos everyday with my camera b) post them on this blog everyday for the entire month and c) really take time to look back at the year and soak everything in before I have to go live another one. It doesn't sound like a lot but I know it'll be a challenge, perhaps a good challenge to focus my mind somewhere in the midst of all these distractions.

Heeeere we go. Time is precious!

Joseph with Daisy

Just got like four rolls of film developed (one roll was from like, early last year!) - so I'll probably slowly start posting some more photos here. Here is Joey with his new bike early this summer. We took a ride on Daisy to Great Falls on Maryland side and it was ... seriously good for the soul. There's something about riding motorcycles and feeling the wind against your body, being aware of every movement of your vehicle and noticing stuff along the way that you never noticed before. I guess I sort of get the appeal of motorcycles now. I miss these peaceful rides out to the burbs, the easy access to abundant nature and peace.

The FM10!

The Nikon FM10 was a heartbreaker from the start. 

I bought it off of this old lady on Craigslist when I was a sophomore in college, and the first few months of dealing with this camera were pretty frustrating and confusing. I had a major problem with focusing and working the light meter, and since this camera is completely manual - loading problems. I think I've had more blank negatives processed during this time than any other time in my life. So in short = I was a noob.

Once you get the hang of it though, this dinky little camera can be quite amazing. I still think a few of my favorite photos were taken with the FM10.

The last image isn't cropped weird, it's just an epic light leak.

Photos from this past summer to fall on 400 Tri-X b&w film.

The Glorious F4

The Nikon F4 is absolutely one of the best film cameras I get to use today, ever since my dad bought it back in the late 80s (it came out in '88, so somewhere around there). It's the most advanced camera from Nikon's F series, the company's first experiment with SLRs with autofocus and a built-in motor drive. It also has a modern light metering inside along with great flexibility for lens compatibility. I don't ever need to worry about loading the film correctly because everything is automatic. So all in all, the F4 is extremely easy to use, easy to manipulate, and produces amazing photos. 

The only few downsides I've experienced are that it's ridiculously heavy and the shutter sound echoes across the entire place. It is terrible for traveling, and honestly challenging to take it around in my purse. I consider the F4 more as the strong, reliable old man who likes to stay in his studio safe and sound.   

All taken with 400 Tri-X. 

Doesn't the bokeh amaze you? It does it for me at least. I love this camera. 

Life of My Little R2D2

I just spend an absurd amount of money at the only photo lab in Dallas that still processes 120 and 110 format films and b&w 35mm films this past weekend. It also agitated me very much that I had to drive about 40 minutes into downtown area where I was challenged with weird road situations and inconsistent traffic lights. Then the price of the whole service! Ah. The absurdity of it all makes me so sad. Film might not be dead, but it might as well slowly starve me with how much everything's costing me. 

But anyways, enough about my geeky life - here is more of my geekiness. Yes, I shoot my little R2D2 I got as a gift at the Lucas Film headquarters when I run out of models. These are digital, by the way. Oh the glorious f/1.4! This shoot was inspired by THIS.

 The very costly film photos from medium format & other cameras coming soon!